NFL Draft Scouting Report: Adoree’ Jackson

USC
Cornerback #2
Junior 5’11” 185

Strengths:

Speed

Agility

Return skills

Versatility

Ball hawk

Weaknesses:

Fighting off blocks

Over aggressive

Gets grabby

Adoree’ Jackson is arguably the most versatile player in this years draft class. Jackson contributed in all aspects for USC catching 39 passes for 628 yards and six touchdowns, six interceptions and 28 passes defended, four kick return touchdowns and four punt return touchdowns. All this amounted to being named Pac-12 defensive player of the year in 2016.

Jackson has some of the best ball skills in the draft and when he is in position he tends to make a play on the ball.
However even tough Jackson intercepted two passes this game he did get burned by John Ross a few times.

Jackson has joined a very large and quality cornerback class but sets himself apart from the pack with his speed and kick/punt return skills. However, Jackson doesn’t come without concerns. His tackling is far from the finished product and tends to miss a few tackles when he doesn’t breakdown and wrap up correctly.

Jackson’s footwork is also not as refined as it could be and this was evident in the game against Washington when John Ross beat him on multiple occasions, stumbling backwards on one play and letting Ross run past for an easy touchdown.

Jackson is capable of playing zone and man coverage but don’t expect him to play bump and run as he doesn’t initiate contact. Jackson likes to play with his eyes in the backfield and this is why he was so good at making interceptions and breaking up passes relying on what he sees and making a break on the ball, similar to Asante Samuel and Deangelo Hall.

Jackson is one of the most electric return men to ever play in college and draws comparisons to Devin Hester in this aspect although Jackson is a better prospect as a position player than Hester was.